PFG Investments LLC Lowers Stake in Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR)

PFG Investments LLC cut its stake in Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) by 31.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,981 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after selling 5,919 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC’s holdings in Ventas were worth $647,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ventas during the fourth quarter worth approximately $203,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Ventas by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 26,548 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,323,000 after buying an additional 1,331 shares in the last quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Ventas by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. now owns 276,842 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $13,798,000 after purchasing an additional 2,168 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in Ventas by 3.7% during the fourth quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 91,581 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $4,564,000 after buying an additional 3,242 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ventas by 114.9% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 47,578 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $2,371,000 after acquiring an additional 25,442 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.18% of the company’s stock.

Ventas Price Performance

NYSE:VTR opened at $43.64 on Thursday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $44.74 and its two-hundred day moving average is $44.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41. Ventas, Inc. has a one year low of $39.33 and a one year high of $50.99.

Ventas Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Investors of record on Monday, April 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 28th. Ventas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -1,636.21%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on VTR. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Ventas in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a “buy” rating and a $60.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Ventas from $53.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and issued a $46.00 price objective (down previously from $52.00) on shares of Ventas in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Ventas from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $50.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, March 18th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Ventas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ventas currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $51.43.

Ventas Profile

Ventas Inc (NYSE: VTR) is a leading S&P 500 real estate investment trust focused on delivering strong, sustainable shareholder returns by enabling exceptional environments that benefit a large and growing aging population. The Company's growth is fueled by its senior housing communities, which provide valuable services to residents and enable them to thrive in supported environments.